‘Want Delhi govt. schools to be parents’ first choice’

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said her administration aims to make government schools the first choice for parents by matching or even surpassing private institutions in quality, facilities and infrastructure.

She was speaking after inaugurating new academic blocks at the District Institute of Education and Training in Dilshad Garden, and Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Mansarovar Garden, along with 101 information and communication technology laboratories across government schools. “Our objective is not merely to build infrastructure, but to ensure that these facilities provide students with world-class education supported by modern technology. Alongside academics, focused attention is also being given to sports and nutrition,” said Ms. Gupta

.She said the government aims to make Delhi the State with the highest number of smart classrooms, computer labs, language labs, modern sports facilities and robust educational infrastructure in the country. “Alongside academics, focused attention is also being given to sports and nutrition,” the Chief Minister said.

Highlighting other initiatives in the education sector, Ms. Gupta said her government is set to inaugurate 75 CM Shri Schools that will serve as benchmarks of educational excellence. She also announced the introduction of the Neev programme to strengthen values such as ethics, civic responsibility and patriotism among students.

Public participation

The Chief Minister said meaningful change is possible only through active collaboration between the government and society. She appreciated the contributions of the Ladli Foundation and the American India Foundation for setting up 101 computer labs and strengthening digital infrastructure in government schools. “Our goal is to ensure that every child in Delhi, regardless of their background, has access to the best technology. These labs are a testament to our commitment to making our students future-ready,” Ms. Gupta said.

Hitting out at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Education Minister Ashish Sood said that while the word “change” is often used in politics, real change cannot be seen in full-page newspaper advertisements. “Government funds are no longer being spent on advertisements, but on cement, school buildings, smart classrooms and ICT laboratories,” Mr. Sood said.

Noting that computer literacy is now essential for most major examinations, he said many students still lack access to computers. To bridge this digital divide, more than 7,000 new computers have been provided to Delhi government schools in less than a year, and tenders for 7,000 smart blackboards have already been completed, Mr. Sood added.

The Minister said in the next four years, smart boards will be installed in 21,000 classrooms from Classes 9 to 12. He also alleged that during the AAP government’s tenure, ICT labs were often claimed to exist by connecting a single CPU to multiple monitors. “The new ICT labs are equipped with multiple computers, separate CPUs and other modern facilities. There are over 1,000 government schools in Delhi, and within the next three years, every government school will have an ICT lab,” Mr. Sood added.